Game apparatus.



PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908.

F. W ALLSTEIN. GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 011.26. 1907.

"WITNESSES ATTORNEYS .rns mamas prunes cm, wasmuoron, a c.

FELIX WALLSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed April 26 1907- Serial No. 370.482.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX VVALLsTEIN, a citizen of the United States, and a-resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved game apparatus, more especially designed for playing chess, checkers and like games in the open air, and arranged to afford considerable amusement to the players and the onlookers.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described herein after and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the board stretched on the ground; Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views of some of the pieces used in playing the game; Fig. 4 is a sectional sidev elevation of one of the pieces on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of part of the board, the section being on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

The game apparatus consists essentially of a board A and pieces B, the board being of canvas or other fabric material and stretched on the ground or on the floor, the pieces B being moved over the board by the players, according to the rules prevailing in playing chess, checkers or similar games.

The board A is formed of a border 0 and squares D of a light color and contained within the border C, the squares D being arranged alternately in vertical and horizontal rows, and adjacent squares being fastened together at the corners by suitable fastening devices E such as eyelets, hooks, buttons and the like, the outermost squares D being sewed or otherwise fastened to the border (3. The border Cis provided with outwardly eX- tending loops F for receiving stakes driven into the ground to hold the board in a stretched position on the ground. By arranging the squares D alternately, openings are formed of a size corresponding approximately to the squares D, and when the board A is stretched on the ground, the latter appears through the openings in the form of dark squares in contrast to the light squares D. Thus by the arrangement described alternating light and dark squares are produced, the squares appearing in files, ranks and diagonals in the manner of an ordinary chess board.

Each of the pieces B is preferably made of papiermach, covered wire netting and like material, and each piece B is provided with a flat back B, preferably of oval shape, and from which rises integrally the embossed figure B representing the character of the piece, each piece being provided at or near to the middle with a ring G adapted to be engaged by a hook at the end of a stick carried by a player, to permit the latter to readily pick up a piece B to move the same over the board A to another field whenever the game is played.

Two sets of pieces B are used, one of a light color and the other of a dark color, each set of pieces having a king, queen, two bishops, two knights, two rooks or castles and eight pawns, the figures B representing the values of the pieces, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, in which a king piece and a knight piece is shown.

In playing the game, the board A and the pieces B are made of a large size, the side of a square and the length of a piece being several feet, and the pieces B are placed on the light and dark squares in the usual manner, and the game is played according to the rules prevailing in playing chess, checkers or the like, it being, however, understood that the players pick up the pieces B in the manner above described and move the same from one field to another as desired.

For playing the game in the night time the pieces B are preferably made of a transparent material, and the figures B on account of being hollow on the back permit of supporting illuminating devices H in the form of electric lights and batteries, or, if desired, lanterns can be used, or the light may be placed on the pieces B to illuminate the same.

It is understood that the players themselves can move the pieces from one square to another, or pages may be employed, who, under the direction of the players, move the pieces to the desired squares. By the arrangement described a large number of people can readily witness the game.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A game apparatus comprising a board adapted to be stretched on the ground and formed of rows of alternately arranged squares, spaced apart to leave openings of a size corresponding approximately to the squares, the squares and the ground appearing through the openings being in contrast to form aboard'with alternating light and dark squares.

2. A game apparatus comprising aboard adapted to be stretched on the ground and formed of ,afabricborder and squares made of fabric material and arranged alternately to form files, lines and diagonals, the squares being of a light color and spaced apart to form-openings through which appears the ground, the latter thus representing dark squares.

3'. A game apparatus comprising a board made of ai'fabric material and comprisinga border, and squares arranged alternately in files and lines, connected with each other at the corners to form openings of approximately the size of the squares.

4. A game apparatus comprising a board made of a fabric material and comprising a border and squares arranged alternately in files and lines, and connected with each other at the corners to form openings of a proximately the size of the squares, t e

outer rows of the squares being attached to the said border.

5. A game apparatus comprising a board made of a fabric-:material.--and comprisingna border and squares :arranged alternately in files and lines, *and connected with each otherat the COIHGIS ,tO;IfOI'Hlopenings ofaapproximately the qSlZG of the ,-:squares, :the outer rows of the squares beingrattached rto the said borfder and the latter beingprovidefd with loops for the reception of zstakesl tozhold the board in place when stretched-on {the ground. 45

In testimony whereof I have 1Slfl6ld mf nameto this specification inqthepresenceaof two subscribing Witnesses.

FELIX 'Witnesses:

THEO. G..HOSTER, EVERARDlB. MARSHALL. 

